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How Current Is FDA's Drug Shortages Database?
FDA updates its Drug Shortages list daily and defines "in shortage," "Resolved," and "Available" — here's exactly what those terms mean, in FDA's own words.
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Updated: Sources: 3
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What matters now
- FDA's Drug Shortages Staff updates the shortage list daily with new and resolved shortages and manufacturer capacity updates.
- FDA defines a drug as 'in shortage' only when nationwide supply fails to meet current or projected demand, not a local stockout.
- An 'Available' status reflects the manufacturer's latest information, not an FDA determination that the shortage has ended.
- 'Resolved' status is assigned only when FDA's Drug Shortages Staff determines the market is covered, using data from all manufacturers.
- The three FDA pages behind this article carry their own 'last updated' dates, separate from the daily shortage-list updates.
FDA’s Drug Shortages Staff updates its shortage list daily, and the agency publishes specific definitions for the status terms it uses — “in shortage,” “Resolved,” and “Available.” This article explains only what those terms mean and how current the underlying pages are, using FDA’s own definitions and its own page-update stamps. It does not say whether any particular drug is in shortage right now, whether a product can be obtained, or what to do if a drug is unavailable.
This original record-reading guide is a general reading aid, not cited evidence. It does not depict a source record; the article text and source links provide the facts.
Key points
- FDA states the list is updated daily: “The Drug Shortages Staff in CDER updates the list daily with new and resolved shortages, as well as additional information we receive from product suppliers on their manufacturing capacity” (FDA FAQ).
- FDA defines “in shortage” as a nationwide supply-versus-demand condition (FDA FAQ).
- An “Available” status reflects the manufacturer’s latest information and is not an FDA determination that the shortage has ended (FDA FAQ).
- “Resolved” status is assigned when FDA’s Drug Shortages Staff determines the market is covered based on information from all manufacturers (FDA database).
- The FAQ and overview pages display their own separate content-current dates (FAQ; overview).
FDA shortage updates
FDA says its staff refreshes the list every day: “The Drug Shortages Staff in CDER updates the list daily with new and resolved shortages, as well as additional information we receive from product suppliers on their manufacturing capacity” (FDA FAQ).
What “in shortage” means
FDA’s own working definition sets the threshold at the national level: “We consider a drug to be in shortage when, on a nationwide level, supply is not meeting current demand, or if supply is not forecasted to meet projected demand” (FDA FAQ). This is a national supply-and-demand test, not a statement about any specific pharmacy, region, or point in time.
Available status meaning
The database also uses an “Available” status, and FDA is explicit about its limits: “When a status is noted as ‘available,’ that reflects the most current information from the manufacturer, but is not an FDA determination that the shortage has been resolved” (FDA FAQ). In other words, “Available” reports what a manufacturer has told FDA, not an FDA finding that the shortage is over.
What “Resolved” means
A separate, higher bar applies to “Resolved” status. FDA’s Drug Shortages database states: “A drug receives Resolved status when the Drug Shortages Staff (DSS) determines that the market is covered, based on information from all manufacturers” (FDA Drug Shortages Database). This is FDA’s own determination, drawing on every manufacturer of the drug — a different standard from the manufacturer-reported “Available” status above.
How discontinuation listings are sourced
The same database also lists drug discontinuations, and FDA labels the basis for those listings directly: “The discontinuations listed on the site reflect information received from manufacturers and are for informational purposes only” (FDA Drug Shortages Database).
Page currency
Beyond the daily list updates, each FDA page carries its own separate currency stamp:
- The FAQ page states: “Content current as of: 12/18/2024” (FDA FAQ).
- The Drug Shortages overview page states: “Content current as of: 07/15/2026” (FDA Drug Shortages overview).
These two stamps describe the content-current dates each page displays, separate from the daily database updates described above.
What this article does not answer
This article explains FDA’s published definitions and update cadence for the Drug Shortages database. It does not address whether a specific drug is currently in shortage, whether a particular product can be obtained, why a shortage occurred, or how serious a shortage is for a particular drug.